JFDI

I first heard the phrase, “Just Focus, Do It,” at Rapport Leadership. You’ve probably seen it in my Facebook status updates or tweets as, “JFDI” (although, my version of the acronym varies slightly).

Either way, JFDI is a verb to me—it means taking action without making excuses. And, of course, it’s perfect for a hashtag.

The power of focused intention combined with bold action will make huge changes in your life. And, a community that collectively focuses its intentions and takes bold action can change the world.

Over 16 million children in America face an unnecessary struggle with hunger. This is inexcusable. Our nation has plenty of food, and we have the solutions to this problem. What we need collectively is more people with the will to JFDI.

Right now, all across this nation, over 9,000 restaurants are participating in the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. Our collective goal is to raise over 10 million dollars for the No Kid Hungry campaign, which aims to eradicate childhood hunger in the U.S. over the next few years. If we reach our goal, millions of meals will be provided for hungry kids in our own communities.

These children are voiceless, they’re not old enough to vote, and they can’t afford lobbyists. So today, we’re going to use our voices, our influence, and the super powers of the internet to give them a voice, some help, and some hope. We won’t stop today until we’ve reached our goal.

There are many things we want to change in the world, and there are many things we’re making better. But, we also know we’ll be passing along many of these things to the next generation for them to solve.

Childhood hunger in America will not be one of those things.

Five years from today, we could be sitting around saying, “We did that … we were part of the movement that ended childhood hunger in America.” And when people ask us how we did it, we’ll say we decided to “just FN do it.”

Join in next Thursday, May 2, during our one-day social media blitz to encourage the public to join Team No Kid Hungry and help us end childhood hunger in the U.S.! The day’s goal is to recruit 5,000 new members to Team No Kid Hungry, and we need your help.

Our Team No Kid Hungry Social Council, a network of 15 dedicated No Kid Hungry supporters and social activists, are working to recruit No Kid Hungry supporters, including high profile members of the culinary and entertainment industries for the Recruitment Day. These supporters will use their influence on social media to recruit advocates to join the fight against child hunger by taking the No Kid Hungry Pledge.

As an added incentive, the filmmakers who brought you the hunger documentary A Place At The Table will be donating $1 for every new Team No Kid Hungry member that joins on May 2, up to $5,000.

What is the No Kid Hungry Pledge and why 5,000 names? In order to truly end childhood hunger, we need an army of individuals ready to take action on behalf of the often invisible and voiceless kids in our country who face hunger each year. This year our members are working on a crowdsourced Breakfast Map, using the new No Kid Hungry Action Center to fulfill actions in local communities, and becoming members of the Hunger Core, the monthly giving program. To date, over 330,000 individuals have taken the Pledge.

How can you help? Here are some ways you can really help us make a difference on Team No Kid Hungry Recruitment Day:

This is for YOU, you know who you are. YOU make us better and WE want to return the favor.

Something that many of us will learn the hard way is that we’re not indestructable. We often put everything and everyone ahead of ourselves and our health, when in reality the better condition we are in mentally, physically and personally, the bigger change we can be in the world and to those in it that we love and care about the most. This is coming from someone who struggles with this every day – me.

STEP 1: Make a bucket list of the things that you commit to doing in 30 days for YOU. Things you know that you need to do for yourself, your health, your well being and overall happiness. (You can do anything for 30 days and it takes that long to form a habit)

STEP 2: Post the bucket list on a blog titled: The Be The Change For YOU 30 Day Challenge #BTC4You (Posting it publicly holds you accountable and can inspire others to join the challenge)

STEP 4: Everyday, follow the hashtag #BTC4You twitter stream. Share what you are doing that day to “Be The Change for YOU” and then encourage others that are taking the challenge. On Facebook You can tag and engage on the Be The Change Revolutions Facebook Page. (The support of a community makes us a zillion times stronger)

My #BTC4You 30 Day Bucket List

Continue to eat healthy for 30 days straight – No exceptions

Exercise daily for 30 days straight – Yes, everyday

No alcohol for 30 days – No problem

Take at least one complete day off per week – Hell froze over

Get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night

Prioritize, schedule and keep all Doctors appointments

I’m being the change for me, for you. I’m hoping you’ll be inspired to do the same.

This week, during Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, we have an opportunity to truly be the change – an opportunity to use our collective “Klout,” “Kred,” Reach, and Influence to give a voice to the 16.1 million children in America who are hungry.

In 2011, the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry raised over 2.4 million dollars with the online assistance of over 2,000 members of Team No Kid Hungry. We sent out over 10,000 Tweets encouraging friends, family, and complete strangers to dine out at one of the 5,000 participating restaurants. This year with over 8,000 participating restaurants – we’re going to need more than 10,000 tweets and 93 million impressions – in fact, we’re going to need double that!

It’s a big goal, and not only are we going to do it – we’re going to have some fun along the way.

Just in time for the Dine Out, we’re rolling out the official Team No Kid Hungry iPhone App (can only download from your iPhone)! If you’re not reading this from an iPhone, here is the web versionhttp://www.teamnokidhungry.org. This app will not only help us reach our goal and continue to grow the movement, it will keep us connected throughout the year and keep us united on focused actions to end childhood hunger.

The app will be the perfect place to join our annual “TwEAT Out” for the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry on Monday, September 17th, to earn points, badges, and even rewards for completing “missions” the week of the Dine Out (Sunday, September 16th – Saturday, September 23rd), and stay connected year-round to stay on top of the leaderboard as one of our top Hunger Heroes.

Not an iPhone user? Don’t worry, you can still join in the fun by visiting http://www.teamnokidhungry.orgfrom any mobile device with an internet connection.

Our Be The Change Influencers Team, our communities on Twitter and all of the amazing people who donated prizes and money absolutely blew me away with your support. That day we exceeded our goal raising over $6,000 to apply to making meaningful change with important causes.

Holding up my end of the bargain. Here is the video of me in the PINK DRESS.

(I tried to make sure I thanked everyone who participated so please let me know if I’ve left anyone out)

And 2) during that breakfast Jeff told me about ServeHope. Around this time of year (October & November), teams of ServeHope volunteers across the US will donate a day or their choosing to help local neighbors, while raising funds that help both local and global neighbors. All the world’s poor are our neighbors. Many are local, and even more are global where a billion exist on $1/day or less.

I’ve been following the work Jeff is doing with GHNI, I know it’s making a BIG difference in places that just don’t have the resources like we do here in the states. And, I think they’re on to something with this ServeHope and I want to be apart of it.

I started a ServeHope team “Be The Change Influencers”. If you’re looking to be apart of something meaningful before Thanksgiving you should join our team. We’re working on the calendar now where we’ll donate our day of time to local food banks around the states. Our team will also do a few different fundraising activities on and offline. Half of the money raised will help GHNI-USA towards their work against hunger in the poorest villages globally and half will go to Share Our Strength’s work to end childhood hunger here at home.

Over the next month I’ll be in Lexington, KY, Baltimore, MD, Charlotte, NC, Bradley, IL, IA, Dayton, OH, Orlando, FL, Dallas, TX, Atlanta, GA and Baton Rouge, LA. If you’re in one of those cities hit me up and let’s organize a food bank volunteer day. If you’re not and you want to organize one in your city hit me up too ahite at talentrevolution.net

If you have a blog we’re asking you to post a blog like this one asking your community to participate in the TwEAT OUT!

Here is the scoop:

Restaurants have done their part by signing up to participate in this year’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Now we need your help in making sure that you, your friends, and your family make the event a success by visiting participating restaurants September 18-24.

To start the week with a bang, we’re holding a twEAT OUT all day on Monday, September 19. Join in the fun and help spread the word about Dine Out For No Kid Hungry on Twitter and Facebook!

When: Monday, September 19, 2011 | 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST

How to Participate:

On Twitter:
Follow @Dine_Out and @ShareStrength.
Retweet messages about the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry from these two accounts.
Use the hashtag #NoKidHungry in all your tweets
Share this tweet:
I’m dining out for #NoKidHungry this week. Join me by finding a participating restaurant in your area: http://ow.ly/2fhoI

RSVP “YES!” to Dine Out For No Kid Hungry event on Facebook
Share news about Dine Out For No Kid Hungry with your Facebook friends:
I’m dining out this week for Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Join me by finding a participating restaurant near you! http://ow.ly/2fhoI
Other Sample Messages:

Feel free to share more messages on Facebook and Twitter. Use these verbatim or customize them yourself:

@Dine_Out TODAY and help make #NoKidHungry in America! Here’s how: http://j.mp/aXxpIk
There are over 5,000 restaurants participating in @Dine_Out for #NoKidHungry! Find one close 2 U! http://j.mp/aXxpIk
Where will you be dining this week for @Dine_Out for #NoKidHungry? Pick a restaurant near you and let us know! http://j.mp/aXxpIk
Now’s the time! @Dine_Out to ensure there is #NoKidHungry in America! Make your plans here: http://j.mp/aXxpIk

If you haven’t seen this video please watch it now to understand the cause. Scott Pelly interview with children who struggle with hunger.

I still meet people every day who wonder if Social Media will ever be anything of significance.

I shake my head…They have no idea.

Social media is a digital extension of our lives and the world we live in – EXCEPT- It’s this “social layer” that gives us UNBELIEVABLE SUPER POWERS.

To date we’re only just seeing the beginning of these powers. Like the at-your-fingertips-power to organize millions of supporters to help win a political election (Obama), Like virtually connecting a country and the world to start a revolution (Egypt) . Like beaming your donations and support half a world away to victims of a natural disaster (Japan). All significant things done from PC’s, laptops and mobile phones all around the world.

I’ve particularly developed a fascination, or maybe an obsession, for how we can use these super powers for good, ways to take digital influence, inspire movements and create meaningful change in the physical world. An examples of just that is Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for #NoKidHungry online movement.

The call to action was focused: “Raise Awareness for the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry and drive consumers into participating restaurants.” We targeted the communities who care the most about this cause (the restaurant industry and it’s advocates) and went after online influencers and consumers who care and want to make a difference. Over 1,000 people helped spread the word, posting over 10,000 tweets about the campaign in just one week. Those 1,000 contributors did their part to help Share Our Strength and the restaurant industry increase funds raised over prior year by 108%,raising 1.5 million dollarsto help end childhood hunger in the United States.

Supporters shared their strength by asking their favorite brands in their own way to participate.

On June 21st, in just ONE DAY the community of almost 1,000 people came back together online to send out well over 5,000 Tweets, leaving over 40 million impressions and reaching around 5 million followers on twitter (the equivalent of the population of Norway or Singapore.)

The #NoKidHungry hashtag was the #2 Trending Topic on Twitter for 3 hours straight, ahead of the ever popular #TheVoice hashtag!

While this raised a ton of awareness for the cause, it also achieved results – getting 52 restaurant registrations during the time because of the TwEAT Outs.

And generated dozens more leads and hiked interest among other restaurants.

But… the thing that impressed me the most is how the cause bonded a community together. The Share Our Strength team brought together communities, advocates and influencers made it empowered them to make a difference and cheered them on along the way. In turn it bred a level of commitment from the community and made a powerful impact on the lives of all who participated in making this meaningful change.

“With great power comes great responsibility” – Ben Parker in Spiderman

My question to you is this – how are you using your digital superpowers for good?

You can join the Be The Change Influencers team to be a part of more movements like this one by clicking the join the revolution link at the top of this page.

*We are preparing a special THANK YOU for all of you that gave and continue to give your time, talent, and passion to this cause. In the meantime I wanted to say thanks and give a special thanks to Jessica Northey who played a HUGE roll and set the example in this last TwEAT Out. The results would not have been the same with out you. Thank you Jessica!

(VIDEO ABOVE) News Anchor Scott Pelley presented an excerpt from a recent 60 Minutes segment “Hard Times Generation: Homeless Kids” at a Share Our Strength fundraising dinner. At the dinner Scott showed a video where he went to the Castlebury Middle School in Seminole County, Florida and spoke directly to students about their experiences with hunger.

1 in 4 children in U.S. will face hunger this year. Without the security of knowing where their next meal will come from, these children lack the energy to learn, grow and thrive. Share Our Strength is an organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. The money raised through Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry September 18-21, 2011 will connect kids with nutritious food where they live, learn and play.

Last year, many of us joined together to support Share Our Strength’sDine Out for No Kid Hungry. Over 1,000 people spread the word online posting over 10,000 tweets about the campaign in just one week. Those 1,000 contributors helped Share Our Strength and the restaurant industryincrease donations by 108%over the last year raising over 1.5 million dollars in 1 week.

This year, the goal is 3 million dollars and to start we need to rally over 5,000 restaurant locations to participate in the program. Now it’s time to rally restaurants around the cause.

1. Save the date – June 21st and participate in Share Our Strength’s online “TwEAT OUT”(tweet-a-thon) On May 4, 2011, we asked our social media followers to help us reach our goal by asking their favorite restaurants to be a part of this national event. Here’s what happened.. On June 21st we’ll be tweeting using this hashtag #NoKidHungry and engaging on Facebook as well. Subscribe here to get more details as we get closer to the event.

2. Add your voice to the national movement of over 41,000 people committed to ending childhood hunger in America by 2015 andTake The No Kid Hungry Pledge

Thank you for using your online influence for good. Let’s go make the world a better place.

1 in 4 children in U.S. will face hunger this year. Without the security of knowing where their next meal will come from, these children lack the energy to learn, grow and thrive. Share Our Strength is an organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. The money raised through Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry will connect kids with nutritious food where they live, learn and play

In 2010, over 4,000 restaurants joined Share Our Strength’s sponsors and partners to raise more than $1.5 million for the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry™!

Last year, many of us joined together to support Share Our Strength’sDine Out for No Kid Hungry. Over 1,000 people spread the word online posting over 10,000 tweets about the campaign in just one week. Those 1,000 contributors helped Share Our Strength and the restaurant industryincrease donations by 108%over the last year.

This year, the goal is 3 million dollars and to start we need to rally over 5,000 restaurant locations to participate in the program. Now it’s time to rally restaurants around the cause. This Wednesday, May 4th Share Our Strength is hosting a twEAT OUT for the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry all day long! Let’s focus our network’s enthusiasm on this one day to really grab the attention of restaurants.

Here’s how you can help:

If you have a blog repost this blog on your network asking people to join this Wednesday’s twEAT OUT linking to the TwEAT OUT page:

Post a request to join us Wednesday and the link to the TwEAT OUT page on your Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin networks